More than a hundred local governments and school districts have now joined the state’s online open checkbook project. But Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports the treasurer is sharpening his focus on those who haven’t shared their data.
Treasurer Josh Mandel says though he’s pleased that more government agencies have agreed to have their spending data listed on Ohiocheckbook.com, it’s just a fraction of the state’s nearly 4,000 local government entities and school districts.
But Mandel says he’s still disappointed that the state’s five pension funds aren’t part of the project – especially the largest one:
“I think they may think that I’m going away. And my message to them at OPERS is, ‘I’m not going anywhere.’”
Mandel’s office got $3 million from the state for starting and maintaining the website, but he says the operating cost is fluid, depending on how many agencies offer up their data.